ABSTRACT
Considering the large area of planted forest with species of the genus Eucalyptus and its uses for multiple purpose, its cultivation has an economic importance in Brazil. The use of substratum with good physic-chemical characteristics is an important point for the quality of the produc ed seedlings. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different doses of vermicompost in containers with capacity of about 50 cm3 of substratum. The current study was conducted in a greenhouse with Eucalyptus grandis from January to April in 1997. The substratum used for seedlings production was the soil from horizon A (0-20 cm) of São Pedro Unit Mapping (yellow red Podzolic) with different vermicompost quantities (0; 5.0; 10.0; 15.0 and 20.0 cm3). The vermicompost was produced from red-worm from California (Eisenia foetida Savigny) with cow dung. After 100 days, the results of development for the same seedlings were different depending on doses of vermicompost. It was verified that quantities over 15.0 cm3 (30%) of vermicompost per container are not recommended for the seedling production.
Key words:
Seedling production; vermicompost; substratum